5 Ways Fiber Optic Cable is Better

As technology advances, more and more businesses are looking to upgrade their current networking systems. Traditionally, choosing copper cables is the cheaper option, but at what cost? Here are five reasons why taking on the fiber optics challenge can have you winning big in the long run.

1. Faster

There’s no question: Fiber optic cable gives you higher speeds for web browsing and interconnectivity. Every second waiting for pages to refresh or files to download adds up to productivity loss that could cost businesses up to a week of missed opportunities.

Because light transmits the data over fiber optic cables, information travels at about two thirds the speed of light, much faster than via CAT5 or other copper lines. There is also much less signal degradation during transfer.

2. More Bandwidth

Faster transmission rates are good, but only if you have the data stream to keep it up. For businesses and individuals that require a high amount of data transfer, the increased bandwidth that fiber optic cable provides makes it easier to have more devices streaming more information without sacrificing speed. Activities that benefit from this higher bandwidth include:

• Video conferencing
• Streaming gameplay
• File transfers
• SIP trunking
• Cloud-based computing

Using fiber optic cables means getting better bandwidth while using wires that are the same size as their copper alternatives. Switching to fiber optics can give your office or home a significant boost!

3. Security

With cyber crime on the rise, it makes sense to choose a more secure option. Copper cables can easily be tapped, giving hackers or other malcontents the opportunity to break into your network. 

Since glass fibers are the delivery method for information, these cables provide additional security since they easily break when tampered with. This stops the flow of data in its tracks, alerting security teams that there may be a problem and stopping physical intrusions before they start.

4. Durability

While it might be easy to accidentally damage fiber optic cables when attempting to break into them, please note that they are robust. The fiber optic lines are much more reliable than their copper-cored counterparts.

Traditional cables are affected by the weather as they react to extreme temperatures and electrical interference. Fiber optic lines are unaffected by these changes, and will only really break down when the glass core is physically damaged. This means less network down time due to storms, saving you time and money.

5. Lower Ownership Costs

While the initial installation might cost more than other alternatives, using fiber optic cables is more cost-effective in the long run. Their exceptional durability means spending less on costly maintenance and repairs, and less down time means more productivity.

Fiber optics is also a great way to future proof your home or office. When the IT department recommends shifting to cloud-based computing, the infrastructure will already be in place, ready for your business to take full advantage of off-site productivity. 

So, when you’re looking at upgrading, don’t forget to investigate how your data gets to and from your office or home. Choosing fiber optic cable ensures you have the best options for speed and savings far into the future!